System and Method for Managing the Delivery of a Food Product

ABSTRACT

A food locker includes a housing, a food support member, a first door, a second door, and a lock. The housing includes a front wall a front wall, a rear wall, and a chamber. The front wall includes a first opening in communication with the chamber. The rear wall includes a second opening in communication with the chamber. The food support member is disposed within the chamber. The first door is supported by the housing and is movable between a closed position and an open position. The food support member is accessible through the first opening when the first door is in the open position. The second door is supported by the housing and is movable between a closed position and an open position. The food support member is accessible through the second opening when the second door is in the open position. The lock is operatively coupled to at least one of the housing and the first door and is actuatable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. The lock is operable to (i) permit the first door to move from the closed position to the open position when the lock is in the unlocked configuration and (ii) prevent the first door from moving from the closed position to the open position when the lock is in the locked configuration.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. patent application is a continuation of, and claims priorityunder 35 U.S.C. § 120 from, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/077,302,filed on Aug. 10, 2018, which is a National Phase Application ofInternational Application No. PCT/US2017/017679, filed on Feb. 13, 2017,which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 62/294,728,filed on Feb. 12, 2016. The disclosures of these prior applications areconsidered part of the disclosure of this application and are herebyincorporated by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a system and method for managing the deliveryof a food product, and more particularly to a system and method forsecuring an ordered food product and/or maintaining a temperature of anordered food product prior to delivery.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure and is not necessarily prior art. Restaurants and otherestablishments that supply prepared (e.g., cooked-to-order) foodproducts to customers often find it desirable to prepare the foodproduct in advance of serving the food product to the customer. Forexample, restaurants offering carryout or take-out food service oftenprepare an ordered food product before the customer arrives at therestaurant to pick up the food product. In these situations, therestaurant may place the prepared food in a staging or waiting areawhere it can remain until it is picked up by the customer. While knownsystems and methods for handling and delivering prepared food productshave proven acceptable for their intended use, a continuous need in therelevant art remains for improved systems and methods for ordering,handling, and delivering prepared food products.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

According to one aspect, the present disclosure provides a food locker.The food locker may include a housing, a food support member, a firstdoor, a second door, and a lock. The housing may include a front wall afront wall, a rear wall, and a chamber. The front wall may include afirst opening in communication with the chamber. The rear wall mayinclude a second opening in communication with the chamber. The foodsupport member may be disposed within the chamber. The first door may besupported by the housing and may be movable between a closed positionand an open position. The food support member may be accessible throughthe first opening when the first door is in the open position. Thesecond door may be supported by the housing and may be movable between aclosed position and an open position. The food support member may beaccessible through the second opening when the second door is in theopen position. The lock may be operatively coupled to at least one ofthe housing and the first door and may be actuatable between a lockedconfiguration and an unlocked configuration. The lock may be operable to(i) permit the first door to move from the closed position to the openposition when the lock is in the unlocked configuration and (ii) preventthe first door from moving from the closed position to the open positionwhen the lock is in the locked configuration.

In some implementations, the food locker includes a first heaterdisposed within the housing. The first heater may be coupled to the foodsupport member and may include a fan and a heating element.

In some implementations, the food locker includes a second heater. Thefirst heater may be disposed on a first side of the housing and thesecond heater may be disposed on a second side of the housing oppositethe first side.

In some implementations, the food locker includes a first air intake anda second air intake. The first air intake may be disposed on the firstside of the housing. The second air intake may be disposed on the secondside of the housing. The first air intake may be in fluid communicationwith the first heater. The second air intake may be in fluidcommunication with the second heater.

In some implementations, the housing includes a first duct and a secondduct. The first duct may extend from the first air intake to the firstheater. The second duct may extend from the second air intake to thesecond heater. The first duct may be disposed in a medial wall of thehousing. The second duct may be disposed in a lateral wall of thehousing. The medial wall may be opposite the lateral wall.

In some implementations, the food locker includes a first input deviceoperable to actuate the lock from the locked configuration to theunlocked configuration. The first input device may include atouchscreen. The touchscreen may be supported by one of the first doorand the front wall of the housing. In some implementations, first inputdevice includes at least one of a phone and a tablet computing device.

In some implementations, the food locker includes a locker controlmodule supported by the housing. In some implementations, the firstinput device is operable to wirelessly communicate with the lockercontrol module.

In some implementations, the food locker includes a second input deviceoperable to actuate the lock from the unlocked configuration to thelocked configuration. The second input device may include a scanner. Thescanner may be disposed on the rear wall of the housing.

In some implementations, the food support member includes a lower plateand a rack supported by the lower plate. The rack and the lower platemay define an air flow passage therebetween.

In some implementations, the food support member may be operable to movefrom a stowed position to a deployed position through the first opening.A proximal portion of the food support may be disposed outside of thechamber when the food support is in the deployed position. A distalportion of the food support may be disposed within the chamber when thefood support is in the deployed position.

In some implementations, the first door is pivotally coupled to thehousing.

In some implementations, the food locker includes an indicator operableto transmit at least one of a visual signal and an audible signal. Theindicator may include a display disposed on the housing. The visualsignal may include a username associated with a user.

According to another aspect, the present disclosure provides a foodlocker. The food locker may include a housing, a first door, a foodsupport member, and a lock. The housing may include a chamber and afirst opening in communication with the chamber. The first door may bemovably coupled to the housing. The first door may be movable from aclosed position to an open position relative to the housing. The firstdoor may prevent access to the chamber through the first opening in theclosed position. The food support member may be disposed within thechamber and may be supported by the housing. The food support member maybe translatable from a stowed configuration to an ejected configuration.The food support member may extend from the first opening in the ejectedconfiguration. The lock may be operatively connected to at least one ofthe housing and the first door and may be actuatable between a lockedconfiguration and an unlocked configuration. The lock may be operable toprevent the first door from moving to the open position when the lock isin the locked configuration.

According to yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides amethod of managing the delivery of a food product with a food lockersystem. In some implementations, the method includes receiving an orderfor a food product from an ordering device. The method may also includepreparing the food product associated with the order. The method mayfurther include placing the food product in a food locker. The foodlocker may include a locker control module and a first door covering afirst opening. In some implementations, the method includes transmittingan identification code to the ordering device. The identification codemay be associated with the order for the food product. The method mayalso include transmitting the identification code from at least one ofthe ordering device and a user input device to the locker controlmodule. The method may further include unlocking the first door suchthat the food product is accessible through the first opening.

In some implementations, transmitting the identification code from atleast one of the ordering device and a user input device includeswirelessly transmitting the identification code from the ordering deviceto the food locker system.

In some implementations, the user input device may be supported by thefood locker. Transmitting the identification code may include enteringthe identification code into the user input device.

In some implementations, the method includes ejecting the food productthrough the first opening.

In some implementations, the method includes activating an indicatorassociated with the food locker. The indicator may include at least oneof a speaker, a display, and a light associated with the food locker.Activating the indicator may include playing a sound on the speaker.Playing the sound may include reciting a username associated with auser. In some implementations, activating the indicator includedisplaying a name of a user on the display. In some implementations,activating the indicator includes illuminating a light.

In some implementations, the method includes scanning an identificationcode associated with the order for the food product.

In some implementations, the method includes activating a heaterdisposed in the food locker.

In some implementations, the method includes instructing an employee toplace the food product in the food locker.

In some implementations, the method includes transmitting a location ofthe locker to the ordering device.

In some implementations, the method includes receiving a second orderfor a food product from a second ordering device. The method may alsoinclude preparing the food product associated with the second order. Themethod may further include placing the food product associated with thesecond order in a second food locker.

In some implementations, the method may include assigning the foodproduct to the food locker based on one of (i) the quantity of the foodproduct and (ii) the height of a consumer associated with the order forthe food product.

According to yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides amethod of managing the delivery of a food product with a food lockersystem. The method may include receiving an order for a food productfrom an ordering device. The method may also include preparing the foodproduct. The method may further include placing the food product in afood locker. In some implementations, the method includes activating aheater disposed within the food locker. The method may also includeremoving the food product from the food locker and selecting a reasonfor removing the food product from the food locker. The reason forremoving the food product from the food locker may include one of (i)expiration of a predetermined amount of time and (ii) delivering thefood product to a customer.

In some implementations, the method may include scanning anidentification code associated with the order for the food product.

According to a further aspect, the disclosure provides a food managementsystem. The food management system may include a first ordering device(e.g, a smartphone, tablet computer, or other similar device) associatedwith a user (e.g., a customer), a receiving system (e.g., a computer orrelated network) associated with an establishment (e.g, a restaurant),and a locker system for storing an ordered food product (e.g., a pizza).One of the first ordering device and a second ordering device maycommunicate with the receiving device and the locker system. In someimplementations, the user may enter an order for the ordered foodproduct on the ordering device and transmit the order from the orderingdevice to the receiving device. The establishment may produce (e.g.,cook) the ordered food product. An employee may scan an identificationlabel on the ordered food product and place the ordered food product ina locker of the locker system. For example, the employee may open a dooron a rear side of the locker and place the food product in the locker.The locker may include one or more heaters to maintain a temperature ofthe ordered food product for a determined amount of time. Prior toexpiration of the predetermined amount of time, the user may open a dooron a front side of the locker to remove the ordered food product. Inparticular, in some implementations, the ordering device may wirelesslycommunicate with the locker to unlock the door on the front side of thelocker. In other implementations, the user may enter a code on a userinput device associated with the locker in order to unlock the door onthe front side of the locker. Subsequent to expiration of thepredetermined amount of time, the employee may be notified to remove theordered food product from the locker if the user has not already removedthe ordered food product. In particular, the employee may remove theordered food product through the door on the rear side of the locker andsubsequently dispose of the ordered food product or deliver the orderedfood product to the customer.

The details of one or more implementations of the disclosure are setforth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Otheraspects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the descriptionand drawings, and from the claims. The description and specific examplesin this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected configurations and not all possible implementations, and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an example food management system inaccordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a plan view of the food management system of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of an example food locker system inaccordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a rear perspective view of an example food locker system inaccordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2C is another rear perspective view of an example food lockersystem in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2D is a cross-sectional view of an example food locker inaccordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an example food support in accordance withthe principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of another example food locker system inaccordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the food locker system of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another example food management systemin accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another example food locker system inaccordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another example food management systemin accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another example food locker system inaccordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another example food management systemin accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example method of operating afood management system in accordance with the principles of the presentdisclosure.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example configurations will now be described more fully with referenceto the accompanying drawings. Example configurations are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scopeof the disclosure to those of ordinary skill in the art. Specificdetails are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices,and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of configurations ofthe present disclosure. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art that specific details need not be employed, that exampleconfigurations may be embodied in many different forms, and that thespecific details and the example configurations should not be construedto limit the scope of the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a food management system 10 is illustratedin accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The foodmanagement system 10 may be disposed in, and utilized by, a restaurantor other similar establishment to manage the ordering of food products12 by, and the delivery of food products 12 to, a user 14 such as, forexample, a consumer or a third party delivery service. For example, insome implementations the food management system 10 may be utilized by apizza-making restaurant. In this regard, while the food products 12 maybe generally shown and described herein as beings pizzas, breadsticks,chicken, and sauces, for example, it will be appreciated that the foodproducts 12 may include other items within the scope of the presentdisclosure.

The food management system 10 may include one or more ordering devices16, a receiving system or device 18, and a locker system 20. Theordering device 16 may be in communication with the receiving device 18and the locker system 20. In this regard, the ordering device 16, thereceiving device 18, and the locker system 20 may communicate with andthrough a central processing system or server 21 (e.g., CAESARVISION®)using wired communication and/or one or more wireless communicationprotocols, such as WiFi, LTE, near field communication, BLUETOOTH®, orBLE® for example. In some implementations the ordering device 16 mayinclude a mobile communication device, such as a phone, a tabletcomputer, or any other suitable computing device that allows the user 14to place an order for one or more food products 12 by communicating withthe receiving device 18. For example, the ordering device 16 may includesoftware, such as an ordering application 22 that allows the user 14 toinput an order for the food products 12 and transmit the order to thereceiving device 18. In particular, the ordering device 16 maycommunicate the order through one or more wireless communicationprotocols to the receiving device 18 and/or the locker system 20. Forexample, in some implementations the ordering device 16 may transmit theorder for one or more food products 12 to the receiving device 18 via awired or wireless (e.g., radio transmissions or electromagnetic radiofields) communication protocol. For example, the ordering device 16 maycommunicate with the receiving device 18 via WiFi, LTE, near fieldcommunication, BLUETOOTH®, BLE®, etc.

The receiving device 18 may include a communication module 26 and a userinterface 28 and may be in communication with the ordering device 16 andthe locker system 20. For example, the communication module 26 mayreceive an order for food products 12 from the ordering device 16 and/orthe locker system 20. In some implementations, the communication module26 may receive the order for food products 12 from the ordering device16 through the ordering application 22. The communication module 26 maytransmit the order to, and/or display the order on, the user interface28 where it can be received by an employee 30 or other person affiliatedwith the restaurant or establishment. In this regard, the user interface28 may include a screen or suitable display for displaying the order tothe employee 30.

The locker system 20 may include one or more lockers 34-1, 34-2, . . .34-n. As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, in some implementations, thelockers 34-1, 34-2, . . . 34-n may be arranged in one or more columnsand/or stacks 36-1, 36-2, . . . 36-n. In this regard, while the lockersystem 20 is shown and described herein as including three stacks 36-1,36-2, 36-3, with each stack 36-1, 36-2, 36-3 including six lockers 34-1,34-2, 34-3, 34-4, 34-5, 34-6, it will be appreciated that the lockersystem 20 may include more or less than three stacks 36-n, and eachstack 36-n may include more or less than six lockers 34-n, within thescope of the present disclosure. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1Aand 2A, each stack 36-n may include one or more wheels 38 such thatstacks 36-n can be readily removed from, or added to, the locker system20. In addition, as further illustrated in FIG. 2A, in someimplementations each locker 34-n may be removably stacked on an adjacent(e.g., lower) locker 34-n such that individual locker(s) 34-n can bereadily removed from, or added to, the stack 36-n in order to increaseor decrease the height of the stack 36-n. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, insome implementations, one or more of the lockers 34-n may be integrallyformed with one or more adjacent (e.g., above and/or below) lockers34-n, such that at least a portion of the stack 36-n includes a fixedquantity of lockers 34-n.

Except as otherwise provided herein, each stack 36-n may besubstantially similar to the others of the stacks 36-n, and each locker34-n may be substantially similar to the others of the lockers 34-n.Accordingly, references herein to the stack 36 will be understood toapply equally to each of the one or more stacks 36-1, 36-2, . . . 36-n,except as otherwise shown or described. Likewise, references herein tothe locker 34 will be understood to apply equally to each of the one ormore lockers 34-1, 34-2, . . . 34-n, except as otherwise shown ordescribed.

With reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, each locker 34 and/or stack 36 oflockers 34 may include a housing 40, a first door 42, a second door 44,a food support 46, a locking mechanism 48, a locker control module 50, auser input device 52, a provider input device 54, an indicator 56, oneor more heaters 58, and a timer 59. In some implementations, the housing40 may include an upper wall 60, a lower wall 62, a lateral wall 64, amedial wall 66, a front wall 68, and a rear wall 70. The upper, lower,lateral, medial, front, and rear walls 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70 maysurround and/or define a chamber 72. In this regard, the upper wall 60may be opposite the lower wall 62, the lateral wall 64 may be oppositethe medial wall 66, and the front wall 68 may be opposite the rear wall70. While the housing 40 is shown and described herein as defining asubstantially rectangular prism it will be appreciated that the housing40 may define other shapes surrounding the chamber 72 within the scopeof the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the front wall 68 may include one or morefront openings 76 in communication with the chamber 72. In this regard,the front opening 76 may allow the user 14 to access the chamber 72.With reference to FIG. 2B, the rear wall 70 may include one or more rearopenings 78 in communication with the chamber 72. In this regard, therear opening 78 may allow the employee 30 to access the chamber 72.

The first door 42 may be movably coupled to the housing 40 such that thefirst door 42 (i) prevents access to the chamber 72 through one of thefront openings 76 in a closed position and (ii) allows access to thechamber 72 through the front opening 76 in an open position. In thisregard, each locker may further include a sensor to detect whether thedoor 42 is in the open position or the closed position, and acorresponding signal (e.g, a light) to indicate whether the door is inthe open position or the closed position.

In some implementations, the first door 42 may be pivotally coupled toone of the upper, lower, lateral, medial, and front walls 60, 62, 64,66, 68 by one or more hinges (not shown) such that the first door 42rotates from the closed position to the open position. In otherimplementations, the first door 42 may be translatably coupled to thehousing 40 by a track, guide, or other suitable device, such that thefirst door 42 translates from the closed position to the open position.

In some configurations, the first door 42 may be biasingly coupled tothe housing 40. In this regard, the locker system 20 may furthercomprise a biasing member (not shown) such as a tension spring, acompression spring, a torsion spring, or other similar type device. Thebiasing member may bias the first door 42 into the open and/or closedposition. For example, in some implementations, the biasing member maybias the first door 42 into the closed position such that, after theuser 14 has removed the food product 12 from the chamber 72, the biasingmember closes the first door 42. In other implementations, the biasingmember may bias the first door 42 into the open position such that, uponreceiving access to a particular locker 34, the biasing member opens thefirst door 42, thus allowing the user 14 to remove the food product 12from the chamber 72.

With reference to FIG. 2B, the second door 44 may be movably coupled tothe housing 40 such that the second door 44 (i) prevents access to thechamber 72 through the rear opening 78 in a closed position and (ii)allows access to the chamber 72 through the rear opening 78 in an openposition. In some implementations, the second door 44 may be pivotallycoupled to one of the upper, lower, lateral, medial, and rear walls 60,62, 64, 66, 70 by one or more hinges 79 such that the second door 44rotates from the closed position to the open position. In otherimplementations, the second door 44 may be translatably coupled to thehousing 40 by a track, guide, or other suitable device, such that thesecond door 44 translates from the closed position to the open position.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the food support 46 may be locatedwithin the chamber 72 such that the food support 46 can hold the foodproducts 12. For example, the food support 46 may be positioned parallelto the lower wall 62. In this regard, in some implementations each foodsupport 46 may be integrally formed with and/or supported by the lowerwall 62 of each food locker 34.

With reference to FIG. 3, in some implementations the food support 46may include a lower cover 80, a rack 82, and an ejection mechanism 84.In an assembled configuration, the lower cover 80 may be disposedbetween, and substantially parallel to, the upper wall 60 and the lowerwall 62. The rack 82 may be disposed between, and substantially parallelto, the upper wall 60, the lower wall 62, and/or the lower cover 80. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, the rack 82 and the lower cover 80and/or the lower wall 62 of a first of the lockers 34 may define a lowerair flow passage 86 extending from the front wall 68 to the rear wall 70and from the lateral wall 64 to the medial wall 66, while the lowercover 80 and the rack 82 of an adjacent locker 34 may define an upperair flow passage 88 extending from the front wall 68 to the rear wall 70and from the lateral wall 64 to the medial wall 66. In someimplementations, the locker 34 may be formed without the upper wall 60,the lower wall 62, and/or the lower cover 80, such that the chamber 72of a locker 34 can fluidly communicate through the rack 82 with thechamber 72 of an adjacent locker 34. For example, as illustrated in FIG.2C, in some configurations, a food support 46 a may include only therack 82.

The ejection mechanism 84 may be supported by the housing 40 andconfigured to eject at least a portion of the food support 46 from thechamber 72 when the first door 42 is in the open position (e.g., FIG.2A). For example, when the first door 42 is in the open position, theejection mechanism 84 can move the food support 46 through the firstopening 76 from a stowed configuration within the chamber 72 to anejected orientation. In some implementations, the ejection mechanism 84may be disposed between the food support 46 and the lower wall 62 of thehousing 40. In other implementations, the ejection mechanism 84 may bedisposed between the lower cover 80 and the rack 82.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the ejection mechanism 84 may include anactuator 94 (e.g., a motor) and a driver 96 (e.g., a chain, a gear, abelt, etc.). The actuator 94 may be operatively coupled to the driver 96and the driver 96 may be operatively coupled to a portion (e.g., thelower cover 80) of the food support 46. In some implementations, thefood support 46 (e.g., the lower cover 80 or the rack 82) may include acoupling mechanism 98 (e.g., a track, a gear, a pulley, etc.)operatively coupled to the driver 96, such that upon actuation of theactuator 94, the driver 96 engages the coupling mechanism 98 to move thefood support 46 into or out of the chamber 72 through the first opening76. In particular, upon, or subsequent to, moving the first door 42 fromthe closed configuration to the open configuration, the driver 96 mayeject at least a portion of the food support 46 from the chamber 72through the first opening 76. Conversely, upon, or prior to, moving thefirst door 42 from the open configuration to the closed configuration,the driver 96 may retract at least a portion of the food support 46 intothe stowed configuration within the chamber 72 through the first opening76.

With reference to FIGS. 1A and 2A, the locking mechanism 48 may becoupled to one of the housing 40 and the first door 42 such that thelocking mechanism 48 can be selectively engaged with the other of thehousing 40 and the first door 42. In particular, the locking mechanism48 may be actuatable from a locked configuration to an unlockedconfiguration, and vice versa, in order to selectively lock the firstdoor 42 relative to the housing 40, and thus prevent the first door 42from opening, relative to the housing 40. In this regard, the lockingmechanism 48 can prevent the user 14 from accessing the chamber 72through the front opening 76 when the front door 42 is in the closedposition and the locking mechanism 48 is in the locked configuration.

The locking mechanism 48 may include any of a variety of lockingmechanisms known to those of skill in the art. For example, in someimplementations the locking mechanism 48 may include a hook or pin (notshown) that is coupled to one of the housing 40 and the first door 42and can be selectively engaged in the locked configuration with a rod oraperture, respectively, that is disposed on the other of the housing 40and the first door 42. In other implementations, the locking mechanismmay include an electromagnet (not shown) that is coupled to one of thehousing 40 and the first door 42 and can be selectively magnetized inthe locked configuration to secure the electromagnet relative to a plateor other element that is disposed on the other of the housing 40 and thefirst door 42.

The locker control module 50 may be coupled to, and/or in electroniccommunication with, the locking mechanism 48, the user input device 52,the provider input device 54, the heater 58, the ejection mechanism 84,the ordering device 16, and/or the receiving device 18. For example, insome implementations, the locker control module 50 may communicate withthe locking mechanism 48 to move the locking mechanism 48 from thelocked configuration to the unlocked configuration, and vice versa. Inthis regard, as will be explained in more detail below, during operationof the food management system 10, the locker control module 50 may (i)receive information (e.g., an identification code) through the server 21from one or more of the ordering device 16, the receiving device 18, andthe user input device 52, and (ii) send information (e.g., an activationsignal) to the locking mechanism 48. In particular, the locker controlmodule 50 may actuate the locking mechanism 48 between the locked andunlocked configurations in response to a signal from one or more of theordering device 16, the receiving device 18, and the user input device52.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the user input device 52 may include one ormore of a touchscreen 106 and a keypad 108. While the user input device52 is illustrated as being located on the front wall 68 of the housing40, it will be appreciated that at least a portion of the user inputdevice 52 (e.g., the touchscreen 106) may be located on an outer surfaceof the first door 42. In some implementations, the user input device(e.g., the touchscreen 106) may be located proximate to the upper wall60 on the front wall 68 of the housing 40 (FIG. 1A). The user inputdevice 52 may communicate with the ordering device 16 and/or the lockercontrol module 50 in order to actuate the locking mechanism 48. Forexample, in some implementations the user input device 52 may receive aninput from the user 14 and/or the ordering device 16 and transmit anactivation signal to the locker control module 50. In this regard, theuser input device 52 may transmit an unlock signal to the locker controlmodule 50.

With reference to FIG. 2B, the provider input device 54 may include oneor more of a touchscreen, a keypad, and a sensor located on the rearwall 70 of the housing 40. For example, in some implementations theprovider input device 54 may include a sensor such as a laser barcodescanner and/or a camera. The provider input device 54 may communicatewith the locker control module 50 in order to actuate the lockingmechanism 48. For example, in some implementations the provider inputdevice 54 may receive an input (e.g., scanning a barcode orquick-response code on the food product 12) from the employee 30 andtransmit an activation signal to the locker control module 50. In thisregard, the provider input device 54 may transmit a lock signal to thelocker control module 50.

With reference to FIG. 2A, the indicator 56 may include one or more of avariety of devices for selectively identifying one or more of thelockers 34-n. In this regard, the indicator 56 may produce a visual,audible, or tactile signal that allows the user 14 to identify one ormore of the lockers 34-n. For example, in some implementations, theindicator 56 may include one or more lights that produce a visible lighton the first door 42 and/or on the front wall 68 of a particular locker34 in order to identify the particular locker 34 for the user 14. Theindicator 56 may be in communication with one or more of the orderingdevice 16, the locker control module 50, and the user input device 52.In this regard, as will be explained in more detail below, upon receiptof an activation signal from one or more of the ordering device 16, thelocker control module 50, and the user input device 52, the indicator 56may produce the visual, audible, and/or tactile signal to identify aparticular one or more of the lockers 34.

With reference to FIGS. 2A-2D, the heater 58 may be disposed within thechamber 72 of the housing 40 in order to selectively increase thetemperature of one or more of the lockers 34, including the foodproducts 12 therein, through one or more modes of heat transfer,including convection, conduction, radiation (e.g., microwaves), and/ordiffusion, for example. In this regard, the heater 58 may include aheating element 116 (e.g., a filament) and a fan 118 to transfer heat toone or more of the lockers 34. In some implementations, each of thelockers 34 may include at least one heater 58 such that each heater 58can be selectively activated in order to increase the temperature of thelocker 34 in which the heater(s) 58 and food products 12 are located.

As illustrated in FIG. 2B, in some implementations, the stack 36 mayinclude a single heater 58 such that the heater 58 can be selectivelyactivated in order to increase the temperature of one or more (e.g.,all) of the lockers 34 in the stack 36 in which the heater 58 islocated. In this regard, the heater 58 may transfer heat from one locker36 to an adjacent locker 36 through upper wall 60, the lower wall 62,the rack 82, the lower air flow passage 86, and/or the upper air flowpassage 88.

In some implementations, each locker 34 may include more than one heater58. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2D, in some implementations eachlocker 34 may include two heaters 58. A first of the heaters 58 may bedisposed in, and/or otherwise supported by, the medial wall 66, and asecond of the heaters 58 may be disposed in, and/or otherwise supportedby, the lateral wall 64. In particular, the first of the heaters 58 maybe disposed proximate the front wall 68, and the second of the heaters58 may be disposed proximate the rear wall 70. The medial wall 66 and/orthe lateral wall 64 may further include one or more air intake ports120. For example, the medial wall 66 may include a first of the airintake ports 120, and the lateral wall 64 may include a second of theair intake ports 120. In some implementations, the first of the airintake ports 120 may be disposed proximate the rear wall 70, and thesecond of the air intake ports 120 may be disposed proximate the frontwall 68.

As further illustrated in FIG. 2D, the first of the air intake ports 120may be in fluid communication with the first of the heaters 58, and thesecond of the air intake ports 120 may be in fluid communication withthe second of the heaters 58. In this regard, the medial wall 66 mayinclude a first flow path 121 (e.g., a duct, conduit, tube, etc.), andthe lateral wall 64 may include a second flow path 123 (e.g., a duct,conduit, tube, etc.). In some implementations, the medial wall 66 mayinclude a substantially hollow portion defining the first flow path 121,and the lateral wall 64 may include a substantially hollow portiondefining the second flow path 123. The first of the heaters 58 mayinclude an inlet 125 disposed in, and/or otherwise in fluidcommunication with, the first flow path 121. The second of the heaters58 may include an inlet 127 disposed in, and/or otherwise in fluidcommunication with, the second flow path 123.

During operation, the first of the heaters 58 may fluidly communicatewith the first of the air intake ports 120, the first flow path 121, andthe chamber 72, and the second of the heaters 58 may fluidly communicatewith the second of the air intake ports 120, the second flow path 123,and the chamber 72. In this regard, the flow of air in and through thelocker 34 may define a continuous loop or flow path. For example, airmay flow (i) from the chamber 72 (e.g., proximate the rear wall 70) intothe first of the air intake ports 120, (ii) from the first of the airintake ports 120 into the first flow path 121, (iii) from the first flowpath 121 into the inlet 125 of the first of the heaters 58, (iv) throughthe first of the heaters 58 into the chamber 72 (e.g., proximate thefront wall 68), (v) from the chamber 72 (e.g., proximate the front wall68) into the second of the air intake ports 120, (vi) from the second ofthe air intake ports 120 into the second flow path 123, (vii) from thesecond flow path 123 into the inlet 127 of the second of the heaters 58,and (viii) through the second of the heaters 58 into the chamber 72(e.g., proximate the front wall 68). The continuous loop or flow path ofair through the air intake ports 120, the flow paths 121, 123, theheaters 58, and the chamber 72 may help to ensure uniform and optimizedheating of the chamber 72 and the food products 12 disposed in thechamber 72.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in some implementations the locker 34 mayinclude a heater 58 a coupled to the food support 46. In this regard,the heater 58 a may be integrally formed with the food support 46 suchthat the heater 58 a can be selectively activated in order to increasethe temperature of the food support 46 and/or locker 34 in which thefood support 46 is disposed. The heater 58 a may include a heatingelement 122, a gasket 124, and a hot plate 126. The heating element 122may be an electrically conductive heating element disposed on, or withina recess 128 of, the food support 46. The gasket 124 may be disposed onthe food support 46 such that in an assembled configuration the gasket124 is located between, and sealingly engaged with, the food support 46and the hot plate 126 in order to seal the chamber 72 from the heatingelement 122.

The heater(s) 58, 58 a may be in communication with one or more of theordering device 16, the user input device 52, the provider input device54, and the locker control module 50. For example, the heater(s) 58, 58a may receive an activation and/or deactivation signal from one or moreof the ordering device 16, the user input device 52, the provider inputdevice 54, and the locker control module 50. As will be explained inmore detail below, in some implementations the heater 58, 58 a mayreceive an activation signal (e.g., “ON”) from the locker control module50 or the provider input device 54 causing the heater 58, 58 a toincrease the temperature of one or more of the lockers 34. Similarly,the heater 58, 58 a may receive a deactivation signal (e.g., “OFF”) fromthe ordering device 16, the user input device 52, and/or the lockercontrol module 50 removing power from the heater 58, 58 a and therebyreducing the temperature of one or more of the lockers 34.

With reference to FIG. 2A, the timer 59 may be in communication with thelocker control module 50, the provider input device 54, and/or theheater(s) 58, 58 a. In some implementations, the timer 59 may beimplemented as software within the locker control module 50. The timer59 may receive an activation signal from the provider input device 54.As will be explained in more detail below, in some implementations theprovider input device 54 may control the timer 59 to provide apredetermined amount of time T (e.g., 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 60minutes, etc.). In this regard, the timer 59 may act as a switch incommunication with the heater(s) 58, 58. In particular, the timer 59 may(i) send an activation signal (e.g., “ON”) to the heater(s) 58, 58 aupon receiving an activation signal from the provider input device 54,and (ii) send a deactivation signal (e.g., “OFF”) to the heater(s) 58,58 a upon expiration of the predetermined amount of time T. Thepredetermined amount of time T may be displayed on a display disposed onthe rear wall 70.

With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, another locker system 20 a is shown.The locker system 20 a may be substantially similar to the locker system20 except as otherwise shown or described herein. For example, thelocker system 20 a may be utilized with any of the food managementsystems (e.g., food management system 10) described herein. Accordingly,like reference numerals are used hereinafter and in the drawings toidentify like components, while like reference numerals containingletter extensions are used to identify those components that have beenmodified.

The locker system 20 a may include a housing 40 a, one or more lockers34 a-1, 34 a-2, . . . 34 a-n and a first door 42 a. In someimplementations, the lockers 34 a-1, 34 a-2, . . . 34 a-n may bearranged in one or more columns and/or stacks 36 a-n. The lockers 34a-1, 34 a-2, . . . 34 a-n may be translatably disposed within thechamber 72 a of the housing 40 a. In particular, the lockers 34 a-1, 34a-2, . . . 34 a-n may be configured to translate within the chamber 72 afrom the upper wall 60 towards the lower wall 62, and vice versa. Inthis regard, the locker system 20 a may include an elevator system 130to translate the lockers 34 a-1, 34 a-2, . . . 34 a-n within the chamber72 a. The elevator system 130 may include one or more of a hydraulicactuator, gears, chains, belts, pulleys, and/or other suitablemechanisms for translating the lockers 34 a-1, 34 a-2, . . . 34 a-nwithin the chamber 72 a. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, in someimplementations the elevator system 130 may include a belt 132 and apulley (not shown) to translate the lockers 34 a-1, 34 a-2, . . . 34 a-nwithin the chamber 72 a. As will be explained in more detail below, theelevator system 130 may translate the lockers 34 a-1, 34 a-2, . . . 34a-n within the chamber 72 a such that a particular one or more of thelockers 34 a-1, 34 a-2, . . . 34 a-n, as well as the food product 12disposed therein, is aligned with the first door 42 a.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, another locker system 20 b for use witha food management system 10 b is shown. The locker system 20 b and thefood management system 10 b may be substantially similar to the lockersystem 20 and food management system 10 except as otherwise shown ordescribed herein. In this regard, while the locker system 20 b isillustrated in the food management system 10 b, it will be appreciatedthat the locker system 20 b may be utilized with any of the foodmanagement systems (e.g., food management system 10) described herein.Accordingly, like reference numerals are used hereinafter and in thedrawings to identify like components, while like reference numeralscontaining letter extensions are used to identify those components thathave been modified.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the locker system 20 b may be disposed behinda wall 131 such that the front wall 68 is covered by the wall 131, andonly the first door 42 is visible and/or exposed. With reference to FIG.6, the locker system 20 b may include a housing 40 b, one or morelockers 34 b-1, 34 b-2, . . . 34 b-n arranged in one or more stacks 36b-1, 36 b-2, . . . 36 b-n, and a conveyance system 133. The conveyancesystem 133 may include a first conveyor 134 and a second conveyor 135.The first conveyor 134 may convey the food product 12 in a firstdirection, and the second conveyor 135 may convey the food product 12 ina second direction transverse to the first direction. For example, thefirst conveyor 134 may convey the food product 12 in one of a horizontaland vertical direction, and the second conveyor 135 may convey the foodproduct 12 in the other of the horizontal and vertical direction.

The first conveyor 134 may include a one or more belts 136 and one ormore flippers 137. The belts 136 may be coupled to one or more pulleys138, such that rotation of the pulleys 138 causes the belt 136 to movein the first direction. In some implementations, a first of the belts136 may be disposed proximate the medial wall 66 of the housing 40 b,and a second of the belts 136 may be disposed proximate the lateral wall64 of the housing 40 b. The flippers 137 may be supported by and/orcoupled to an outer surface of the belts 136. Accordingly, as the belt136 moves in the first direction, the flippers 137 similarly move in thefirst direction.

The second conveyor 135 may include one or more belts 139 coupled to oneor more pulleys 141, such that rotation of the pulleys 141 causes thebelts 139 to move in the second direction. During operation of theconveyance system 133, the first conveyor 134, the food product 12 maybe supported by a pair of opposed flippers 137, such that moving thebelts 136 and/or flippers 137 in the first direction can move the foodproduct 12 in the first direction. Once the food product 12 is alignedwith the second conveyor 135 (e.g., the food product 12 is engaged withthe belt 139), moving the belt 139 in the second direction can move thefood product 12 in the second direction. In this way, the food product12 can loaded into the locker system 20 b (e.g., through one or moresecond door 44), stored in the locker system 20 b, conveyed within thelocker system 20 b, and distributed from the locker system 20 b (e.g.,through the first door 42). In particular, the food product 12 can beloaded into and thereafter distributed from the locker system 20 b on afirst-in, first-out basis.

In some implementations, the locker system 20 b may be combined with oneor more of the other locker systems 20, 20 a. For example, in thestackable arrangement of lockers 34 described above, an upper or lowerportion of the locker system 20 may include the locker 34 b, and theother of the upper and lower portions of the locker system 20 mayinclude one or more of the lockers 34 and/or the lockers 34 a.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, another locker system 20 c for use witha food management system 10 c is shown. The locker system 20 c and thefood management system 10 c may be substantially similar to the lockersystem 20 and food management system 10 except as otherwise shown ordescribed herein. In this regard, while the locker system 20 c isillustrated in the food management system 10 c, it will be appreciatedthat the locker system 20 c may be utilized with any of the foodmanagement systems (e.g., food management system 10) described herein.Accordingly, like reference numerals are used hereinafter and in thedrawings to identify like components, while like reference numeralscontaining letter extensions are used to identify those components thathave been modified.

The locker system 20 c may include a housing 40 c, one or more lockers34 c-1, 34 c-2, . . . 34 c-n, one or more first doors 42 c, one or moresecond doors 44 c, one or more food product storage compartments 140,and a loading system 142. The lockers 34 c, the food product storagecompartments 140, and the loading system 142 may be disposed in thechamber 72 c of the housing 40 c. For example, the lockers 34 c may bedisposed proximate the front wall 68 c of the housing 40 c and the foodproduct storage compartments 140 may be disposed proximate the rear wall70 c of the housing 40 c, such that the first door 42 c and the seconddoor 44 c provide access to the lockers 34 c and the storagecompartments 140, respectively. The loading system 142 may betranslatably disposed between the lockers 34 c and the storagecompartments 140. For example, the loading system 142 may be configuredto translate in one or more dimensions (e.g., along an X-axis, along aY-axis, and/or along a Z-axis) within the chamber 72 c. In someimplementations, the loading system 142 may include a first track 144, asecond track 146, and a third track 148, and an arm 150. The first,second, and third tracks 144, 146, 148 may be aligned with, orsubstantially parallel to, the X-, Y-, and Z-axes, respectively. The arm150 may be translatably coupled to the first, second, and third tracks144, 146, 148. In this regard, the arm 150 may translate along one ormore of the first, second, and third tracks 144, 146, 148 to and fromthe storage compartments 140 and the lockers 34 c. Accordingly, as willbe explained in more detail below, the arm 150 may pick up foodproduct(s) 12 from one or more of the storage compartments 140 anddeposit the food product(s) 12 in one or more of the lockers 34 c.

With reference to FIG. 9, another locker system 20 d for use with a foodmanagement system 10 d is shown. The locker system 20 d and the foodmanagement system 10 d may be substantially similar to the locker system20 and food management system 10 except as otherwise shown or describedherein. In this regard, while the locker system 20 d is illustrated inthe food management system 10 d, it will be appreciated that the lockersystem 20 d may be utilized with any of the food management systems(e.g., food management system 10) described herein. Accordingly, likereference numerals are used hereinafter and in the drawings to identifylike components, while like reference numerals containing letterextensions are used to identify those components that have beenmodified.

The locker system 20 d may include a housing 40 d, one or more lockers34 d-1, 34 d-2, . . . 34 d-n arranged in one or more stacks 36 d-1, 36d-2, . . . 36 d-n, and a conveyance system 160. The conveyance system160 may include a food storage compartment 162 storing various foodproducts 12, and configured to move (e.g., translate) relative to thestacks 36 d of lockers 34 d. In this regard, the food storagecompartment 162 may include wheels (e.g., wheels 38) that allow the foodstorage compartment 162 to move from one of the stacks 36 d-n to anotherof the stacks 36 d-n. Accordingly, during operation, the food storagecompartment 162 may move from a first position in which the food storagecompartment 162 is aligned with the second door 44 of one of the stacks36 d-n to a second position in which the food storage compartment 162 toaligned with the second door 44 of another of the stacks 36 d-n. Whenthe food storage compartment 162 is in the first position, the foodstorage compartment 162 may transfer the food product 12 from the foodstorage compartment 162 to the chamber 72 of the first respective stack36 d-n, and when the food storage compartment 162 is in the secondposition, the food storage compartment 162 may transfer the food product12 from the food storage compartment 162 to the chamber 72 of the secondof the respective stacks 36 d-n.

In some implementations, the food storage compartment 162 may holdquantities of infrequently-ordered food products 12. For example, thefood storage compartment 162 may store certain types of pizzas that areordered less frequently than other types of pizzas.

With reference to FIG. 10, an example method of operating the foodmanagement system 10-10 c is shown. At 200, the user 14 may place anorder for a food product 12. For example, in some implementations theuser 14 may access the application 22 on the ordering device 16 andcreate (e.g., by selecting one or more buttons on the application 22 ofthe ordering device 16) an order for one or more food products 12. Inother implementations, the user 14 may place an order for the foodproducts(s) 12 by placing a telephone call to the restaurant or otherestablishment, or otherwise communicating with the receiving device 18.

At 202, the user 14 may select (e.g., by selecting one or more buttonson the application 22 of the ordering device 16) a location at which thefood product 12 will be prepared. At 204, the user 14 may select (e.g.,by selecting one or more buttons on the application 22 of the orderingdevice 16) whether the food product 12 will be delivered to the user 14or picked up by the user 14 at the restaurant or other establishment. At206, the user 14 may confirm (e.g., by selecting one or more buttons onthe application 22 of the ordering device 16) the accuracy the order forthe food product 12.

At 208, user 14 may receive an identification code (e.g., a confirmationnumber) associated with the order for the food product. For example, theuser 14 may receive, via the ordering device 16, a text message,telephone call, email, or other message containing the identificationcode associated with the order. In some implementations, the orderingdevice 16 may wirelessly (e.g., WiFi, LTE, etc.) receive theidentification code from the food management system 10.

At 210, the order may be transmitted to one or more other computingdevices associated with the restaurant or other food establishment. Forexample, the receiving device 18 may transmit the order to a computer160 (e.g., FIGS. 1A and 1B) that is accessible by the employee 30 of therestaurant. At 211, the order may be prepared by the employee 30. Forexample, the employee 30 may create the ordered food product 12 and/orplace the ordered food product 12 in an oven 162 (e.g., FIGS. 1A and 1B)

At 212, the system 10 may indicate a destination for the ordered foodproduct 12. For example, the system 10 may indicate whether the foodproduct 12 is being delivered to the user 14 or delivered to a lockersystem (e.g., locker system 20).

At 214, the food product 12 may be marked with a label 164 (e.g., FIG.2B) and/or an identification code 166 (e.g., a barcode or aquick-response code). The identification code 166 may include a varietyof information related to the ordered food product 12 and/or theparticular user 14 associated with the ordered food product 12. Forexample, the identification code 166 may include the date and/or time atwhich the ordered food product 12 was made, the date and/or time atwhich the ordered food product 12 expires or should otherwise be removedfrom food management system 10 (e.g., from the locker system 20 and/orthe cabinet 168), the name or type of the ordered food product 12, aname or a confirmation number corresponding to the particular user 14associated with the ordered food product 12.

At 214, the ordered food product 12 may be placed in a storage cabinet(e.g., cabinet 168 in FIGS. 1A and 1B), and at 216 the ordered foodproduct 12 may be placed in one of the lockers 34 of the locker system20. In this regard, at 216, the employee 30 may scan the identificationcode 166 with the provider input device 54 corresponding to a particularone of the lockers 34 and/or activate a switch (e.g., a push-button) onthe locker system 20 to designate the particular one of the lockers 34in which the ordered food product 12 is located. In this regard, eachlocker 34 may include an illuminated push button proximate the rear wall68. The illuminated push button may illuminate in a variety of colors(e.g., red, green, yellow) to indicate a status of the locker 34. Forexample, the button may illuminate red when the locker 34 is holding anordered food product 12. The button may illuminate green when the locker34 is empty. The button may illuminate in a flashing manner when anidentification code 166 has been scanned and the locker system 20 iswaiting for the employee 30 to select a particular locker 34 in which toplace the ordered food product 12.

In some implementations, the system 10 may instruct the employee 30 toplace the ordered food product 12 in a particular one of the lockers 34by illuminating the button. For example, the system 10 may illuminatethe button of a particular locker 34 in a particular color to notify theemployee 30 that the ordered food product 12 is to be placed in theparticular locker 34. In this way, the system 10 can ensure that thelockers 34 are loaded with food products 12 in a predetermined orderthat optimizes the use of the lockers 34. For example, in someimplementations, the system 10 may ensure that locker 34-1 is loadedfirst, that locker 34-2 is loaded second, and that locker 34-3 is loadedthird in order to minimize the amount of time the customer 14 isrequired to wait before obtaining the ordered food product 12 from thelocker 34. In some implementations, the system 10 may instruct theemployee 30 to load a locker 34 at a first height prior to loading alocker 34 at a second height or a locker 34 at a third height, where thesecond height is lower than the first height and the third height ishigher than the first height. In this way, the system may ensure thatlockers 34 that are easy to access are utilized before lockers 34 thatare more difficult to access.

The provider input device 54 may receive a variety of information fromthe identification code 166. For example, the provider input device 54may receive the date and/or time at which the ordered food product 12was made, the data and/or time at which the ordered food product 12expires or should otherwise be removed from food management system 10(e.g., from the locker system 20 and/or the cabinet 168), the name ortype of the ordered food product 12, and/or the name or the confirmationnumber corresponding to the particular user 14 associated with theordered food product 12.

At 218, the provider input device 54 may communicate with the heater 58,58 a, the locker control module 50, the timer 59, the ordering device16, and/or the user input device 52. For example, at 218, the providerinput device 54 may send an activation signal to the heater 58, 58 aassociated with the particular locker 34 in which the ordered foodproduct 12 has been assigned, such that the heater 58, 58 a increasesthe temperature of the locker 34 to a predetermined value. For example,the heater 58, 58 a may increase the temperature of the locker 34 tobetween 100 deg. F. and 180 deg. F. In some implementations, the heater58, 58 a may increase the temperature of the locker 34 to between 155deg. F. and 165 deg. F.

While the heater 58, 58 a is described herein as receiving an activationsignal based on the association of an ordered food product 12 with aparticular locker 34 (e.g., placement of the ordered food product 12 inthe locker 34, scanning the identification code 166 of an ordered foodproduct with the provider input device 54 of a particular locker 34), insome implementations the heater 58, 58 a may receive an activationsignal based on one or more other factors in order to optimize theamount of energy used by the heaters 58, 58 a. In particular, the system10 may minimize the amount of energy used by the heaters 58, 58 a, whileensuring that the system 10 provides heat to each of the ordered foodproducts 12.

In some implementations, the heater 58, 58 a may receive an activationsignal based on a predicted number of orders that will be placed for oneor more particular food products 12. In particular, the food managementsystem 10 may estimate the number of orders that will be placed for afood product 12 during a predetermined period of time (e.g., 5:00p.m.-6:00 p.m.). The heater 58, 58 a may receive an activation signalbased on the estimated number of orders of the food product 12. Forexample, if the estimated number of orders is less than a predeterminedthreshold, the system 10 may send an activation signal to a firstquantity (e.g., 0, 1, 2, etc.) of the heaters 58, 58 a associated withparticular lockers 34. If the estimated number of orders is greater thanthe predetermined threshold, the system 10 may send an activation signalto a second quantity (e.g., 1, 2, 3, etc.) of the heaters 58, 58 aassociated with particular lockers 34, where the second quantity isgreater than the first quantity.

In some implementations, the heater 58, 58 a may receive an activationsignal based on the receipt and/or processing of a particular order fora food product 12. In particular, the system 10 may activate one or moreheaters 58, 58 a upon receipt of an order for a food product 12 in orderto preheat one or more lockers 34 in preparation for placement of thefood product 12 in the locker(s) 34. For example, the system 10 mayactivate a heater 58, 58 a upon receipt of an order from the orderingdevice 16.

The provider input device 54 may also send an activation signal to thelocker control module 50 associated with the particular locker 34 inwhich the ordered food product 12 has been assigned. In this regard, theprovider input device 54 may send an activation signal instructing thelocker control module 50 to lock the locking mechanism 48.

In some implementations, the provider input device 54 and/or the lockercontrol module 50 may further send an activation signal to the timer 59associated with the particular locker 34 in which the ordered foodproduct 12 has been assigned. For example, the provider input device 54may assign the predetermined amount of time T or an expiration time Txto the timer 59. In this regard, when an ordered food product 12 issensed (e.g., scanned) by the provider input device 54 and placed in aparticular locker 34, the provider input device 54 may also sense (e.g.,scan) the expiration time Tx and transmit the expiration time Tx to thelocker control module 50. The locker control module 50 may count down tothe expiration time Tx. In this regard, the timer 59, or other displayproximate the rear wall 70, may display the time remaining until theexpiration time Tx for each food locker 34.

The provider input device 54 may also send a signal to the orderingdevice 16. For example, the provider input device 54 may send (e.g.,wirelessly and indirectly through the food management system 10) a codeto the ordering device 16. The code may correspond to the particularlocker 34 in which the ordered food product 12 has been assigned. Inparticular, the code may allow the user 14 to actuate (e.g., unlock) thelocking mechanism 48 in order to access the food product 12 through thefirst door 42 of the particular locker 34 in which the food product 12has been assigned.

The provider input device 54 may also send a variety of information to aportion of the user input device 52 (e.g., touchscreen 106) for display.For example, the provider input device 54 may send to the touchscreen106 the name of the user 14 and/or the locker number associated with thelocker 34 in which the ordered food product 12 is located. The name ofthe user 14 and/or the locker number may be displayed on the touchscreen106, for example, of the user input device 52.

At 220, the ordering device 16 and/or the user input device 52 maycommunicate with the locker control module 50 in order to unlock thelocking mechanism 48 associated with the particular locker 34 in whichthe ordered food product 12 has been assigned. For example, in someimplementations, the ordering device 16 may wireless transmit (e.g.,WiFi, BLUETOOTH BLE, near field communication, etc.) to the lockercontrol module 50 the code received at 218. In other implementations,the user 14 may enter, the via the user input device 52, the codereceived at 218. Upon entering and/or transmitting the code by the userinput device 52 or the ordering device 16, the locker control module 50may control the locking mechanism 48 to unlock the first door 42.

At 222, the method may activate the indicator 56 associated with theparticular locker 34 in which the ordered food product 12 has beenassigned. For example, in some implementations the indicator 56 mayprovide a light on at least one of the first door 42 and the front wall70 of the housing 40 to notify the user 14 of the locker 34 in which theordered food product 12 is located. In some implementations, one or bothof the indicator 56 and the user input device 52 (e.g., touch screendisplay) may identify the user 14. For example, the indicator 56 (e.g.,a speaker) may produce an audible recitation of the name, or otheridentifying information (e.g., code, confirmation number, etc.) of theuser 14, and/or the user input device 52 may display the name and/orconfirmation number of the user 14.

Upon opening the first door 42, at 224 the method may include ejectingat least a portion of the food support 46 and the ordered food product12 from the chamber 72 through the first opening 76 such that the usercan retrieve the food product 12 from the locker 34.

In the event the ordered food product 12 is not removed from the locker34 through the first door 42, the food management system 10 may managethe removal of the ordered food product 12 through the second door 44.In this regard, in some situations the user 14 may not retrieve theordered food product 12 from the food locker 34, or the user 14 mayattempt to retrieve the ordered food product from a drive-thru window orat a service counter of the restaurant. In such situations, the employee30 may retrieve the ordered food product 12 from the locker 34 throughthe second door 44. Upon removing the ordered food product 12 throughthe second door 44, the employee 30 may scan the identification code 166with the provider input device 54 corresponding to the particular locker34 and/or activate a switch (e.g., a push-button) on the particularlocker 34 in which the ordered food product 12 is located.

Upon removing the food product 12 from the locker 34 and scanning theidentification code 166, the employee 30 may be prompted by the providerinput device 54 or another provider input device (e.g., a touchscreen orkeypad proximate the rear wall 68 of the housing 40) to enter a reasonfor removal of the ordered food product 12 through the second door 44.In this regard, in some implementations the employee 30 may be promptedto enter a reason for removal from a list of available reasons. The listof available reasons may include, sending the ordered food product 12 towaste, delivering the ordered food product 12 to the user 14 through adrive-thru window, or delivering the ordered food product 12 to the user14 at a service counter. In some implementations, the timer 59 maycommunicate with the provider input device 54 or another provider inputdevice (e.g., a touchscreen proximate the rear wall 68 of the housing40) upon expiration of the predetermined amount of time T, such that theemployee 30 is notified that the predetermined amount of time T hasexpired. In this regard, the timer 59 may include a display indicatingthe remaining amount of the predetermined amount of time T. The employee30 may then be prompted, through the provider input device, to removethe ordered food product 12 from the locker 34 upon expiration of thepredetermined amount of time T. In some implementations, the lockercontrol module 50 may send a deactivation signal to the heater 58, 58 aupon expiration of the predetermined amount of time T.

The foregoing description has been provided for purposes of illustrationand description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit thedisclosure. Individual elements or features of a particularconfiguration are generally not limited to that particularconfiguration, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can beused in a selected configuration, even if not specifically shown ordescribed. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations arenot to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of thedisclosure.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularexemplary configurations only and is not intended to be limiting. Asused herein, the singular articles “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intendedto include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,”and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence offeatures, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The methodsteps, processes, and operations described herein are not to beconstrued as necessarily requiring their performance in the particularorder discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as anorder of performance. Additional or alternative steps may be employed.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,”“connected to,” “attached to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer,it may be directly on, engaged, connected, attached, or coupled to theother element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may bepresent. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directlyon,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” “directly attachedto,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be nointervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe therelationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion(e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directlyadjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describevarious elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections. Theseelements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not belimited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish oneelement, component, region, layer or section from another region, layeror section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical termsdo not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by thecontext. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or sectiondiscussed below could be termed a second element, component, region,layer or section without departing from the teachings of the exampleconfigurations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A food locker comprising: a housing defining achamber and having a first opening in communication with the chamber; afood support member disposed within the chamber; a first door supportedby the housing and being movable between a closed position and an openposition, the food support member being accessible through the firstopening when the first door is in the open position; a lock operativelycoupled to at least one of the housing and the first door and beingactuatable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration,the lock operable to (i) permit the first door to move from the closedposition to the open position when the lock is in the unlockedconfiguration and (ii) prevent the first door from moving from theclosed position to the open position when the lock is in the lockedconfiguration; and a display disposed on the housing and operable totransmit a visual signal including (i) a first identifier associatedwith a user and (ii) a second identifier associated with the chamber. 2.The food locker of claim 1, further comprising a first heater disposedwithin the housing.
 3. The food locker of claim 1, further comprising afirst input device operable to actuate the lock from the lockedconfiguration to the unlocked configuration.
 4. The food locker of claim3, wherein the first input device includes a touchscreen.
 5. The foodlocker of claim 4, wherein the touchscreen is adjacent to the firstdoor.
 6. The food locker of claim 3, wherein the first input deviceincludes at least one of a phone or a tablet computing device.
 7. Thefood locker of claim 6, further comprising a locker control modulesupported by the housing, wherein the first input device is operable towirelessly communicate with the locker control module.
 8. The foodlocker of claim 3, further comprising a second input device operable toactuate the lock from the unlocked configuration to the lockedconfiguration.
 9. The food locker of claim 8, wherein the second inputdevice includes a scanner.
 10. A food locker comprising: a housingdefining a chamber and having a first opening in communication with thechamber; a food support member disposed within the chamber; a first doorsupported by the housing and being movable between a closed position andan open position, the food support member being accessible through thefirst opening when the first door is in the open position; a lockoperatively coupled to at least one of the housing and the first doorand being actuatable between a locked configuration and an unlockedconfiguration, the lock operable to (i) permit the first door to movefrom the closed position to the open position when the lock is in theunlocked configuration and (ii) prevent the first door from moving fromthe closed position to the open position when the lock is in the lockedconfiguration; a display disposed on the housing and operable totransmit a visual signal including a username associated with a user;and a first input device operable to actuate the lock from the lockedconfiguration to the unlocked configuration.
 11. The food locker ofclaim 10, further comprising a first heater disposed within the housing.12. The food locker of claim 10, wherein the first input device includesa touchscreen.
 13. The food locker of claim 12, wherein the touchscreenis adjacent to the first door.
 14. The food locker of claim 10, whereinthe first input device includes at least one of a phone or a tabletcomputing device.
 15. The food locker of claim 14, further comprising alocker control module supported by the housing, wherein the first inputdevice is operable to wirelessly communicate with the locker controlmodule.
 16. The food locker of claim 10, further comprising a secondinput device operable to actuate the lock from the unlockedconfiguration to the locked configuration.
 17. The food locker of claim16, wherein the second input device includes a scanner.
 18. A foodlocker comprising: a housing defining a chamber; a food support memberdisposed within the chamber; a first door supported by the housing andbeing movable between a closed position and an open position toselectively allow access to the food support member; a lock operativelycoupled to at least one of the housing and the first door and beingoperable to (i) permit the first door to move from the closed positionto the open position when the lock is in a unlocked configuration and(ii) prevent the first door from moving from the closed position to theopen position when the lock is in a locked configuration; a controlleroperable to: identify an available destination in the food locker;activate a heater to increase the temperature of the availabledestination; a first display operable to display (i) a first identifiercorresponding to the available destination and (ii) a second identifiercorresponding to a customer; a second display operable to display theavailable destination; and a locker control module operable to unlock adoor associated with the available destination.
 19. The food locker ofclaim 18, further comprising a first heater disposed within the housing.20. The food locker of claim 18, further comprising a first input deviceoperable to actuate the lock from the locked configuration to theunlocked configuration.
 21. The food locker of claim 20, wherein thefirst input device includes a touchscreen.
 22. The food locker of claim21, wherein the touchscreen is adjacent to the first door.
 23. The foodlocker of claim 20, wherein the first input device includes at least oneof a phone or a tablet computing device.
 24. The food locker of claim20, wherein the first input device is operable to wirelessly communicatewith the locker control module.
 25. The food locker of claim 20, furthercomprising a second input device operable to actuate the lock from theunlocked configuration to the locked configuration.
 26. The food lockerof claim 25, wherein the second input device includes a scanner.